10 Paranormal Books You Haven’t Read Yet (But Should)

Journey to the dark side of demonic possessions, haunted houses, and restless spirits.

The popularity of abnormal occurrences is nothing new in our culture. We’re obsessed with exploring the unknown—and there are countless movies and TV shows to prove it. But with all the publicity these fascinating shows receive, it’s easy to forget about the exceptional books on the subject.

These underrated paranormal books—from works of fiction to chilling real-life investigations—deserve a place on your shelf, and are sure to keep you obsessed with otherworldly beings.

Ghosts of the Queen Mary

By Brian Clune

Now settled in the Port of Long Beach, the RMS Queen Mary may seem like a tourist trap. But this stately ship, which sailed the North Atlantic for 31 years, is said to be haunted by more than 600 spirits. Paranormal investigators Brian Clune and Bob Davis dive into the history of the once-luxurious ship and take readers through the hot spots of activities as they recount spooky tales from the ship's past.

Ghosts of the Queen Mary

Supernatural Lore of Pennsylvania

By Thomas White

This book dives into the legends and lore that haunt the state of Pennsylvania—from child ghosts to werewolves. If you're a fan of paranormal history (that still touches people today), then Thomas White's book is a great place to begin. Along with a group of experts, he dives into Pennsylvania's sometimes-frightening past, from phantom trains that can still be heard making their way down tracks that have long since been removed to ghosts of the Civil War.

Supernatural Lore of Pennsylvania

Poltergeists

By Hans Holzer

A pioneer of paranormal research, Hans Holzer has investigated some of the most famous hauntings in history, including the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Millbraw Poltergeist. His inquiries were conducted along with his trusted psychic Sybil Leak, whose insights were eerily accurate despite receiving no information from Holzer or those who experienced the hauntings. Throughout their research, equipment inexplicably broke down, ghost sightings were recorded, and other strange events occurred. The team’s best photographic evidence appears in this book, illustrating Holzer’s detailed reports.

Poltergeists

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The Haunted House

By Walter Hubbell

In 1879, author Walter Hubbell traveled to Amherst, Nova Scotia to investigate the rumored haunting of eighteen-year-old Esther Cox. Prior to Hubbell’s arrival, unexplained events happened to Cox’s family—including Esther being plagued by a mysterious illness. Hubbell spent six weeks in the family home, where he witnessed the terrifying events, and eventually documented the ordeal in this bestselling book.

The Haunted House

The Tesla Gate

By John D. Mimms

Although his book is a work of fiction, much of the material came from Mimms’ experience as a paranormal researcher. Mimms supervised over 100 investigations and authored numerous articles on the paranormal when he was the Technical Director for The Atlantic Paranormal Society. Combining his strange experiences with fiction in The Tesla Gate, Mimms examines the phenomenon of spirits living among us as “Impalpables” and the realistic effects these specters might have on institutions that seek to eliminate them or harness their power.

The Tesla Gate

Scarecrow

By Richie Tankersley Cusick

After being injured in a car accident, Pamela is taken in by the Whittakers—a family living on a remote farm in the Ozark hills. At first, Pamela takes comfort in the family’s peaceful lifestyle, but soon it becomes clear that the family is hiding secrets. And when Pamela is faced with a terrifying, unnatural evil, she knows she must escape…that is, if they let her.

Scarecrow

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A Face at the Window

By Dennis McFarland

When the Selways head to London to escape the eerie quiet of their own home, they realize that they’ve simply traded one horror for another. Fifty years ago at the Hotel Willerton, a girl fell to her death from one of the windows. And now, that girl is haunting recovering alcoholic and drug addict Cookson Selway.

A Face at the Window

The Light at the End

By John Skipp and Craig Spector

New York City is a mess. Ten people have been killed on the subway—murders that defy all reason and have no pattern. Dubbing the criminal as the “Subway Psycho,” police have no idea who, or rather what, they’re looking for. This novel of paranormal suspense will have you hooked.

The Light at the End

Every House is Haunted

By Ian Rogers

This collection of short stories by a debut author is not to be missed. Rogers examines the place between the supernatural and our world. Combining fantasy and horror, these stories of the paranormal are sure to terrify you.

Every House is Haunted

Goat Dance

By Douglas Clegg

If you’re a fan of small town horror, you’ll love Douglas Clegg’s novel. When a young man returns to his hometown to find the girl he once loved, the town must confront its terrifying past. This book has possessed children, a creepy abandoned house, and more paranormal horror.